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A.J. Campbell Collection

Image: Returning from N. E. Id. with 'Spoils' of the Day."

Source: Museum Victoria

This collection consists of 2,772 images taken by Archibald James Campbell. These are made up of a combination of black and white prints and glass negatives. Many of the images of birds and nests were used by Campbell in his book Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds, including the Geographical Distribution of the Species and Popular Observations Thereon, published in 1900. There is also a significant number of images taken by Campbell on his various field trips around Australia with groups such as the Ornithologists Union, Victorian Field Naturalists, The Working Men's College Photographic Club and his family.

The collection came into Museum Victoria's care on 22 December 1915 and forms part of a much larger holding which includes 1,884 specimens and an archive of letters, manuscripts, notes and sketches. In the early 1990s this collection was separated into two. The archival material most generally related to Campbell's ornithological and the specimens remained in the Ornithology Department and the other images and glass negatives were retrieved from the strong room under the stair in McCoy Hall and registered into the History and Technology Collection. Later in 2006 more albums were discovered in the Museum Library and transfered into the History and Technology collection.

The History and Technology collection breaks down as follows:

518 - Album photographs

1486 - Glass negatives

756 - Photographs

1 - Printers Block

In 1954 A.J's son AG Campbell died and left a large amount of material to the Museum. This material is also held by Museum Victoria - see Ornithology Department.